DECATUR, Ala. – The Stillman College softball team fell behind early in both games today during day two of the HBCU Athletic Conference Softball Championship, but the Tigers rallied in each game to advance to the championship contest tomorrow at the Wilson Morgan Complex.
Stillman defeated the Oakwood University Ambassadors 7-3 in the morning and followed with a 12-4 win in six innings over Dillard University Bleu Devils.
Game One - Stillman 7, Oakwood 3
Toni Sims put the Ambassadors on the board with a three-run homer to left field in the top of the first.
The Tigers started chipping at the lead in the second with a triple to centerfield to knock in
Carolyn Carter.
Then in the third inning, Carter notched an RBI after reaching on a fielder's choice as
Lily Stone scored to move the score to 3-2.
Stillman took the lead in the fourth with a two-RBI single up the middle by
Avary Lumpkin to bring in
Lauren Haskins and
Gracie Fjeldstad.
Madison Bubel followed with a hit through the right side to bring in Stone, putting the Tigers up 5-3.
Two more runs came across for Stillman in the sixth off an Lumokin double to center field to plate Stone and an RBI groundout by Carter to bring in
Molly Neal to reach the 7-3 final.
Lumpkin led the way at the plate as she went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double, while
Carolyn Carter posted two RBIs on 1-for-4 hitting. Bubel posted a 2-for-3 effort.
Lumpkin (4-1) also picked up the win in the circle in six innings of relief.
Faith Byram started the contest and threw an inning.
Game Two - Stillman 12, Oakwood 4
The Bleu Devils put the Tigers behind early with two runs in the top of the first.
However, Stillman responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, starting with Stone using a bunt to help the speedy Haskins score from second.
Katelyn Lankford hit a single to right center to knock in Bubel.
Dillard recaptured the lead with a solo homer to left field by Morgan Williams to go up 3-2.
The Tigers shot ahead in the fourth, starting with a sacrifice fly by Stone to tie the game. Lumpkin followed with a three-run homer, which brought in Haskins and Hollinger to take a 6-3 lead.
Alex Erwin extended the lead with a two-RBI single to left field as Carter and Bubel scored to go up 8-3.
Dillard's last gasp came in the fifth inning with an RBI for Jennifer Gress to cut the lead to 8-4.
However, Stillman used a score by Haskins in the fifth and then a three-run homer to left field to bring in Erwin and Neal to reach 12-4 and force the run-rule victory.
Lumpkin pushed across three RBIs and a homer on 2-for-4 hitting. Haskins added four runs, two stolen bases and a home run on 2-for-3 hitting. Erwin went a perfect 4-for-4 with with two RBIs and a double.
Jasmine Wade pitched all six innings with a strikeout and scattered nine hits against the Dillard lineup.
Stillman College has advanced to the HBCUAC Softball Championship game, and will face the winner of Dillard and Rust for the tournament title at 11 a.m.
